Habitat to offer low-cost home repairs to qualified, low-income homeowners

Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties continues A Brush with Kindness

Thursday, April 18, 2013 3:38 AM

Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties is continuing its newest program called A Brush with Kindness.

A Brush with Kindness is a program that helps low income homeowners by offering exterior home improvements. Volunteer teams work to improve the condition of the homes by painting, landscaping and doing minor exterior repairs at minimal costs to homeowners who would be unable to complete home repairs on their own.

Able-bodied homeowners are encouraged to work alongside the volunteers in a cooperative effort. A Brush with Kindness is for homeowners earning 60 percent or less of the median income. For example, 60 percent of the median income for a family of four is $38,820 per year.

A Brush with Kindness focuses primarily on neighborhood revitalization through minor exterior maintenance, limited landscaping and limited exterior painting projects. Minor exterior repairs are offered at the discretion of Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties. A small program fee may be necessary to help defray the cost of materials. Family income and scope of work to be done will be used to determine the program fee.

"A Brush with Kindness gives us a great opportunity to help more families in need, as well as have an impact on the entire neighborhood" said Nancy Iglesias, executive director, Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties. "Helping people repair and maintain their homes fits in seamlessly with Habitat's core mission of making decent, affordable housing available to low-income families."

A Brush with Kindness is underwritten by a grant from Valspar, Habitat's National Paint Partner.

If you are a homeowner and are in need of improvements or a volunteer interested in working on a house contact Habitat for Humanity at (507) 457-0003 or www.habitatwinona.org. A Brush with Kindness is open to any resident of Winona and Fillmore counties.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical, grassroots, Christian organization, dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Habitat partners with homeowner families, the members of the local community and volunteers to build simple, decent, affordable houses. The houses are sold to those in need at no profit, through no-interest loans